A team of young curlers from the Coldwater and District Curling Club won a national championship Sunday.
Known as Team Niepage because the team is skipped by Dylan Niepage, the Coldwater boys rocked the house at the 2019 U18 National Championship in Sherwood Park, Alberta.
The Ontario champs finished third in their pool after the week-long round-robin playdowns.
In the opening playoff game, Team Niepage defeated New Brunswick, before pulling off a dramatic last-rock triumph against the hosts, Team Alberta.
Those two wins allowed the Coldwater crew to move directly into the semi-finals on Sunday.
Team Niepage kept rolling in the semis, defeating Manitoba before capping off their Cinderella season with a victory over British Columbia to write their names in the history book as Canadian champions.
"I am elated and so proud to be the home rink of the 2019 U18 provincial and national champions," said Tom McMenemy, the club's youth program director.
"Every game during Nationals was exciting but this final match was exceptional as our boys gained control by the mid-point and never let up," said McMenemy. "Once that train got going, there was no stopping it."
Those Canadian champs include skip Dylan Niepage, vice Sam Hastings, second Cameron Van Bodegom, lead Trey Cowell and alternate Chris Inglis. The team is coached by Jeff Van Bodegom.
"Every game during Nationals was exciting but this final match was exceptional as our boys gained control by the mid-point and never let up," said McMenemy. "Once that train got going, there was no stopping it."
McMenemy said it's a remarkable feat for a small club of approximately 250 members of which only about 50 are young curlers from ages 5 to 18.
"To see a home-grown team make it this far is truly awe-inspiring," he said.
The club held a "wonderful send-off" for the teens a couple of weeks ago that was attended by club members of all ages, from Little Rocks to Seniors.
"Everyone signed a banner that was sent out west with the team and provided the financial and moral support needed to help them along," said McMenemy.
"That is the best part of this seemingly Cinderella story - that three of the five members developed together within this club's youth program, playing together for the past seven years," he noted.
It didn't just happen overnight, but is the result of years of hard work, "toughing it out in every level of competition and learning how to win by learning how to lose, together as a team.
"By that I mean that these boys learned all of the valuable lessons that winning and losing teaches you, building the character and strength required to pursue dreams," said McMenemy. "And (Hastings) was a perfect fit this season as he grew up playing in a very similar environment in Chesley, Ontario. The club over there is equally as proud of him as we are."
McMenemy said the team would want to acknowledge some of the very important people who helped them along their journey.
"Firstly, the fifth member at Nationals, Chris Inglis, because alternates are people, too," he joked.
"Then there is their past skip, Evan Running, who led them to the OCA Provincial and Ontario Junior Curling Tour finals last season," noted McMenemy. "Without question, Evan's father, Scott Running, who was their head coach for several seasons ... was instrumental in the team's overall development having brought in numerous game experts and specialists to work with the boys."
Some of those people who helped included: Terry Pringle, a local club member and father of Katie Cottrell, an accomplished past junior champion and professional women's curler; Sherry and Wayne Middaugh, two of Coldwater and Ontario's elite curling royalty, and, of course, Niepage's long-time idol and friend, Glen Howard - someone whose professional curling accomplishments, while representing the Coldwater Club, are unparalleled.
"Last but certainly not least, all Team Niepage's parents (are to be thanked) for their unwavering support and dedication to this fine group of boys," said McMenemy.
A ceremony to recognize the team's outstanding accomplishments is being planned. A date and time is to be determined.
